Sen. Diaz has left the building

Actually, he’s left the whole city: Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. is en route back to the Bronx, making good on last night’s threat not to return to the Senate floor until a budget deal has been accomplished.

Reached in his car, Diaz reiterated some of the same points he made on the floor: The members of the leadership “are playing games,” he said. “They lead you guys in the media to think something is happening. … There’s nothing happening.” (What?)

Diaz emphasized that the rank-and-file, even in the majority Democratic conference, “have nothing to do with the negotiation.”

“Give me something in front of me,” said Diaz, who suggested that bringing legislators and staff back day after day was “a laugh in the face of the people of New York.”

Senate Democratic staff seemed unconcerned at the absence of their 32nd vote, suggesting that negotiations are continuing to the point that a few GOP votes might turn up for the eventual package — or maybe it’s just that the Bronx is a drive of only about three hours and change.